News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

A former Antrim man, who now lives in England with his family, has spoken of his distress at being turned down by Australian immigration because of his autistic child.

Adrian Scott, originally from Brantwood Gardens, lives in Oxfordshire with his wife Julie, son Tevin (19) and daughter Niamh (13).

The couple's twin sons, Stephen and Marc, are both already settled in Australia with their respective families. Julie's parents have also been American citizens for over 20 years.

Scott (47) and his wife always had the intention of moving to Australia once they had completed their family; however, due to Niamh's condition, they have not been allowed move to Australia by immigration authorities.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]
ARMAGH

A 63-year-old Whitecross man has died following an accident at a building site in Monaghan Town.

The fatal accident happened just before noon on Friday, October 12 at a construction site for a new Vocational Education Committee (V.E.C.) campus at Armagh Road in the town.

It is believed a teleporter construction vehicle may have been involved in the accident.

Barry Malone, a well-known father of four from Whitecross, was pronounced dead at the scene, before his remains were removed to Navan General Hospital.
[Source: Examiner Newspaper]
CARLOW

A flock of sheep has been viciously attacked by dogs, their throats ripped out and their bodies left scattered in pieces across a County Carlow field in an appalling act of savagery.

Farmer Andy Keogh, Hill Road, Myshall was horrified to find 13 of his lambs killed in the mauling, several more left horrifically injured, and the entire flock traumatized by the ordeal.

“It’s terrible to see it … the sheep you reared, lying there with their throats ripped out of them. You would be upset by the whole thing,” Mr. Keogh told The Nationalist.
[Source: Carlow Nationalist]
CAVAN

Sean Quinn, Jr. has lost his appeal against his imprisonment for contempt-of-court. The five presiding-judge court will give reasons for its four-to-one majority decision this week.

It comes as a major blow for both Sean, Jr. and his family, who recently saw their father, Sean, Sr. appear before the courts again to face the possibility of imprisonment.

Quinn, Jr. was jailed back in July of this year for three months and would not have completed his sentence until October 20, by which time Ms. Justice Elizabeth Dunne in the High Court was to be satisfied he had, or was prepared to purge his contempt to avoid further imprisonment.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

Clare county councilors have been stripped of their power to direct County Manager Tom Coughlan to make major planning decisions in exceptional cases that may be in contravention of the County Development Plan.

This is just one of the changes, which includes the abolition of the four local town councils in Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush and Kilkee with a combined membership of 36, as part of the most dramatic overhaul of local government in over 100 years. Councilors have been given the thankless task of levying rates for the introduction of a new property tax next year, which looks set to cause major controversy at council meetings.

Although the number of county councilors could be cut from 32 to 24, no decision has been taken on the exact number of members, which will be decided by a new independent statutory committee.
[Source: Clare Champion]
CORK

A Cork-based Facebook page has incurred the wrath of an east Cork community after falsely posting about a fatal accident in the village on the page.

The page, Garda (Police) Checkpoints Cork County, posted two weekends ago that a haulage lorry had overturned on the exit of Ballycotton “by the proddy church.”

The administrator proceeded to name a driver of the lorry in the fictional accident.

What followed was a series of violent and abusive comments directed at people rebuking the administrator of the site for posting a name and an accident that did not occur.
[Source: Cork Independent]
DERRY

Police in Derry have seized a quantity of rockets and fireworks during searches in the city.

The searches were carried out last Tuesday.

Inspector Trevor McKeown says it is vital parents, youth and community leaders help police make the Halloween period safe and fun.

“The weeks prior to and after Halloween are becoming an increasingly busy time of the year for police,” he says.
[Source: Derry Journal]
DONEGAL

Child prodigy, Caolan Fleming, who is Europe’s youngest app developer, is exceptionally proud of his Donegal and Gaoth Dobhair heritage.

Last week, the 11-year old had attracted worldwide attention for his work and had been invited as a guest to the Dublin web summit where he met and greeted the leaders of major global players on the technological market, such as: Twitter, Google and Skype.

The primary school student from Laois was accompanied to the event last week by his mother, Caitlin Nic Pháidín, a native of Carrick Coyle, Gaoth Dobhair.
[Source: Donegal Democrat]
DOWN

Planning authorities have given the go-ahead for a new bridge to be built at Narrow Water between Counties Louth and Down.

An Bord Pleanála gave planning permission to Louth County Council for construction of the structure across the Newry River to Omeath, provided a special roost for birds affected by the project is built.

The single-lane cable bridge will be 2,165 feet long and cost around $24 million.
[Source: Irish Times]
DUBLIN

A manhunt is underway for a violent sex attacker who savagely attacked a woman with an iron bar before brutally raping her in a sickening attack.

The shocking incident happened at Cookstown Road in Tallaght in the early hours of Sunday, October 14 at a location close to St. Mark's Church and a local G.A.A. club.

The traumatized woman required hospital treatment for extensive injuries after the disturbing incident that occurred while the victim was on her way home after a night out. The woman, who is in her mid-20s, is understood to live in the Tallaght area.

A senior source said: "This was a particularly brutal and violent attack and the woman has been left severely traumatized and badly injured."
[Source: Evening Herald]

FERMANAGH

The new South West Hospital near Enniskillen could be the net winner if the proposed move of up to 80 jobs relating to acute mental health services from Omagh to Fermanagh gets the go-ahead.

The “Transforming Your Care” document, which was recently released by Health Minister Edwin Poots, says that it is “necessary to locate mental health hospitals close to acute hospital provision, recognizing that this may not be possible in all circumstances.”

Thus, the document states, the “principles would imply” that the second location would be “in proximity to the new South West Acute Hospital rather than Omagh as previously planned.”

Andy McKane, a Unison spokesperson, said: “Approximately 60-odd nursing positions and around 20 support services could move if this proposition is implemented.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]
GALWAY

Multi-talented Galway model Cara Lyons will be flying the green flag in more ways than one when she travels out to represent Ireland in the Miss Earth Competition in the Philippines in November.

The 22-year-old Connemara model will fly out to Manila on November 1 and go up against almost 90 other contestants from around the globe for the title of Miss Earth. The Miss Earth candidates will need to balance beauty with an awareness of environmental issues if they are to claim the overall crown in the final on November 24.

The emphasis placed on environmental awareness was one of the things that attracted Cara to the competition. The contestants will model bikinis and evening wear at the final but they are also required to give speeches and answer questions on environmental issues.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

The make-up of the Kerry senior football management team for next season was confirmed last Monday, with Cian O'Neill notably coming on board as team trainer and one of the appointed selectors.

New manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has assembled a strong backroom staff, which also includes his former teammate Diarmuid Murphy and Kingdom legend Mikey Sheehy.

Ex-goalkeeper Murphy has remained on from Jack O'Connor's managerial reign. He will have selector duties along with Sheehy and O'Neill, who is rated as one of the best G.A.A. strength-and-conditioning coaches around.
[Source: Irish Examiner]
KILDARE

A Newbridge family had to flee their home on Wednesday, October 10 after work on roof repairs went badly wrong, leaving the house gutted and the family bereft of all their possessions.

Tony and Bernie King, and their five children, were left with “just the clothes on their backs” after the fire at their rented home in Baroda, just outside Newbridge.

It’s understood that repairs, involving the use of a blow torch, were being carried out on a flat roof over one section of the home.
[Source: Kildare Nationalist]
KILKENNY

Kilkenny is officially the best city in Ireland, according to the country’s largest retail industrial body, Retail Excellence Ireland (R.E.I.).

R.E.I. made the confirmation with its announcement of the best 100 towns and cities in Ireland Sunday, October 14 following a lengthy survey. Westport was given the title of Ireland’s best town.
[Source: Kilkenny People]
LAOIS

A family syndicate from Laois brought seven weeks of intense speculation to an end last Thursday, October 18 when they collected a check for $11,329,639 – the 17th largest ever Lotto jackpot win in the National Lottery’s 25-year history.

The family syndicate, who wish to keep their win private, will share the jackpot equally.

The $10 quick-pick winning ticket was for the Lotto draw on Wednesday, August 29, and it was purchased in Moran’s, Main Street, Abbeyleix the previous Friday evening, August 24.
[Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM

A tale of a missing dog named Aran took an incredible twist two weeks ago. After 15-year-old collie Aran was reunited with his owners in Scotland thanks to the Leitrim Animal Welfare Centre, it amazingly transpired that the owners had only recently got another dog from the Dogs Trust in Glasgow, a dog who had previously been homed by the Leitrim Animal Welfare Centre.

The story began on September 20 with the discovery of an elderly collie in Carrick-on-Shannon, and he was later brought to the Leitrim Animal Welfare Centre in Drumkeerin where the center’s manager Andrea Sharp said, “He instantly won our hearts. We thought him to be about 15-years-old and his back legs were very stiff. He immediately settled in enjoying lying on a blanket in the sunshine that we luckily had that week.”

It was discovered that the Collie was chipped and the process of trying to track down his owners began immediately.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]
LIMERICK

The jury in the trial of a County Limerick pensioner, who is charged in connection with the death of a lifelong friend two years ago, was expected to consider its verdict last Thursday.

Mary Meade (70) of Lissard, Galbally has pleaded not guilty to reckless endangerment and to dangerous parking outside Jim Corbett’s home on the date of a multi-vehicle collision that resulted in his death.

It is the prosecution’s case that Mrs. Meade, who was a “lifelong friend” of the deceased man, had parked her Opel Astra car on the wrong the side of the road and left her headlights on as she was about to return home.
[Source: Limerick Leader]
LONGFORD

Local taxi drivers have slammed the government’s plans for new taxi branding signage as another money-generating stunt.

Two weeks ago, Junior Transport Minister Alan Kelly welcomed the move, developed by the National Transport Authority, which will see semi-permanent taxi stickers applied to the front doors of all taxi cars.

It’s intended to be a cut-price version of New York’s yellow taxis, or London’s black cabs, aimed at preventing licenses being switched between different cars. It has been estimated the cost for the signs will be between $195 and $325.

Longford taxi driver Paddy Boyle described the news as “another gimmick for money.” While Minister Kelly said the change will “make it harder for rogue drivers to continue operating in the sector,” Paddy doesn’t believe it will make any difference.
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

Louth county councilors have decided to name the Boyne cable bridge.

It will be called the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge. But that’s only the county Louth name for it. In Meath, it is called the Boyne Valley Bridge.

The confusion seems to have arisen when Meath county councilors decide to name the bridge not realizing that Louth county councilors might take offense as half of the bridge is in Louth.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]
MAYO

The High Court has lifted account freezing orders against the niece and nephew of Mary McLoughlin, the Westport woman who stands accused of taking $170,000 from a retired parish priest.

Ann Geary, Pontoon, Foxford, sister of Fr. Vincent Kelly (86), is claiming that Ms. McLoughlin, Corragaun, Kilmeena, Westport, befriended the priest and then misappropriated over $170,000 of his money.

Earlier this month, Mr. Justice Roderick Murphy made several orders on an ex-parte (one side only represented) basis, including an order restraining Ms. McLoughlin from reducing her assets below $67,764.79.

Freezing orders were also obtained ex-parte against Ms. McLoughlin’s nephew, Thomas McLoughlin, and against her niece, Tara McLoughlin.
[Source: The Mayo News]
MEATH

Kells Gardaí (police) is appealing for witnesses following an assault in the town Friday, October 12, where a man in his 40s received serious head injuries.

The assault occurred at around 11:30 p.m. at the junction of Bective Street and the Mullingar Road.

The victim was removed by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and later transferred to St. James's Hospital, Dublin. He has since been released from hospital
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

A man convicted of capital murder is to bring an appeal to the Supreme Court early next year against the rejection of his bid to be considered for remission from his 40-year jail sentence.

The Chief Justice, Ms. Justice Susan Denham, said last Thursday the appeal of Noel Callan, while it had been granted priority, was unlikely to be heard before January 2013.

Callan has served 26 years so far for the murder of a Garda (Police) Sergeant Patrick Morrissey.

Paul O'Higgins S.C., for the State, said that even if he won his appeal, Mr. Callan was unlikely to be freed before 2016, but that was disputed by Deirdre Murphy S.C., for Mr. Callan, who said, if he won, he would be eligible for temporary release.

Mr. Callan (48), Cullaville, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, has claimed he has unlawfully been deprived of a right-of-remission, which could reduce his 40-year term by up to one-third.
[Source: Irish Independent]
ROSCOMMON

The number of members elected to Roscommon County Council could be trimmed down to just 18 in a new program of radical reforms that is also expected to sound the death knell for Boyle Town Council.

Minister for Local Government Phil Hogan was expected to announce radical changes to the local authority sector last Tuesday in a bid to bring savings of more than $92 million per annum.

Speculation has been rife in the lead up to the minister’s announcement, with strong signals that town councils face the axe and that the number of councilors on local authorities will also be substantially reduced.
[Source: Roscommon Herald]
SLIGO

Jason McGuinness secured his third league winners medal on Saturday and has now added another award after being named Airtricity/Soccer Writers' Association Player of the Month for September.

The towering center-half was inspirational in Sligo Rovers league title winning run, and helped Ian Barraclough’s to three wins and one draw in September as the Bit O’Red conceded just two goals in 360 minutes of top-tier soccer.

Gardaí (police) in Tipperary Town have named the man who was fatally shot at a house in Golden, Tipperary on Wednesday morning as Shane Rossiter (30).

A post-mortem examination has been concluded and the results are not being disclosed for operational reasons. No arrests have been made at this stage. Investigations are on-going.

Gardaí believe a man entered the Church Lane area of the village at around 6:35 a.m. and shot the victim, who is from the Clonmel area. Mr. Rossiter was taken to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel, where he was later pronounced dead.
[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE

Cookstown District Council is getting all charged up with the purchase of an electric car.

It is hoped the purchase of the vehicle will help to drive down their carbon emissions as they gear towards greater energy efficiency.

And it is also expected they will demonstrate the Renault Kangoo ZE Electric Van to steer others into opting for an electric vehicle.

The move was recommended by councilors at a meeting of the council's Policy Resources and Services Committee, supporting the E-car Project in 2012/13, and the car has now been bought.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]

WATERFORD

The award-winning O’Brien Chop House in Lismore will shut its doors on October 28, much to the disappointment and sadness of owners Justin and Jenny Green.

The restaurant won great acclaim over its four years of trading and was awarded numerous awards and accolades, and just this year retained its Bib Gourmand in the 2013 Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland, as well as being named best restaurant in Munster in the Food and Wine Magazine Awards.
[Source: Waterford News & Star]
WESTMEATH

The percentage of Catholics in both Westmeath and Roscommon increased significantly in the five years prior to the last census, new figures have revealed.

The figures were part of the latest publication in a series of Census 2011 reports by the Central Statistics Office.

The statistics also reveal that there were more atheists than Church of Ireland adherents in both counties.

In Westmeath, some 75,432 people representing 87.5 percent of the population were Catholic, an increase of 5.5 percent since 2006.
[Source: Westmeath Independent]
WEXFORD

A crowd of people braved inclement weather recently to attend the annual I.R.A. Commemoration in Saltmills.

The event took place at the memorial statue located near St. Kearns. Among those in attendance was local man, Michael Whelan, who read the Proclamation. The organizers expressed gratitude to everyone who attended – especially in view of the fact the weather wasn’t ideal.

The commemorative ceremony is one of the longest established in the district and pays tribute to a number of local men who were killed following an explosion in October 1920.
[Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW

Cross-examination has been continuing at a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court of a detective dealing with C.C.T.V. footage of suspects.

Det. Garda (police) Michael McGrath was being questioned by a barrister representing a Wicklow man charged with murdering a young father at his Dublin home in March 2009.

Garrett O'Brien (35), of Clover Hill in Bray, is on trial accused of shooting dead father-of-two Séamus O'Byrne in front of his girlfriend and baby son.
[Source: Irish Examiner]